Bosh vs Kyrie: Who Should Start?

Rajon Rondo tearing his ACL created two openings in the All-Star game: A general player replacement (Fairly given to Brook Lopez), and a replacement in the starting lineup.  A recent Heat win secured them the best record in the East at the halfway point, meaning Erik Spoelstra and his staff are assuming the coaching duties, and are allowed to choose the final starter.  This has been wittled down quickly to two choices: Club namesake Chris Bosh, and second-year phenom Kyrie Irving.  Bosh has made no secret of expecting to be named starter.  But should he be?

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Let's try to look at this.  Bosh is obviously playing on the better team.  Miami is leading the conference, while Cleveland sits in 13th position, 18.5 games back.  I don't need to remind you about the quality of Boshs' teammates.  The best thing Kyrie had going this year was Anderson Varejao, ane he's out for the season.  It's safe to say Kyrie carries a heavier load.

 

But what about the numbers?  Kyrie is checking in at 24/5/4 & 2 steals with 47/41/81 shooting splits.  Bosh 18/2/7 and 1 block, posting 55/27/81 shooting.   Kyrie posts the 13th-best PER at 22.78, with Bosh sitting in 22nd at 20.61.  Again, advantage Kyrie. 

 

Kyrie is doing all that is asked of him and more, while putting on some jaw-dropping performances and carrying a really terrible team.  Bosh isn't playing poorly by any stretch; it's no secret he gets overshadowed and generally under-appreciated.  But when you have an open PG slot, and the best young player/PG in the league making his first All-Star game, why not reward him?  You really need to put Bosh in, making the Heat the first time with 3 ASG starters since Magic's early 90s Lakers?  Come on, Erik.  Do the right thing, let Kyrie get a chance to shine and be in the starting lineup.  Who doesn't want to see him and BronBron and Melo carving up KSmoove? 

Real-life Uncle Drew

It's a known fact that Club postings grind to a halt on the weekend.  Ya bois have to take care of the VIPs, and there's simply no time for updates.  Especially when Club mainstay Kyrie Irving needs to throw a banger after playing one of the most absurd games of the season.  On Saturday night, the Thunder came to Cleveland for what figured to be a big win.  OKC sporting the second-best record in the L, and the Cavs coming off a loss to the Pistons in which Kyrie claimed he was "disinterested" and didn't play hard.  Instead of admitting defeat, Kyrie acted like the whole Thunder team was just a bunch of Joeys from the park:



35 points (12-23, 3-5 from three), including 13 in the LAST 3 MINUTES.  He showed it all: crafty bank shots, twisting layups, the best handle in basketball (those hesitation moves are sick), and balls of steel nailing another deep three, this time over RussRuss.  Beating the Thunder is tough when KD and Russ combine for 60/13/8/4, but to do it as a second-year player?  God DAMN.  I'll fan out on Kyire every chance I get.  That's just silly. 

Also, I'm really glad my opinions about him getting taken with the 1st pick having played like 5 games are not in writing. 

Kyrie Irving IN YO FACE

Saturday night, Cleveland traveled north of the border to take on the Raptors.  A late Toronto bucket gave them a two point lead with 12 seconds to go.  Luckily, the Cavs have this kid Kyrie, perhaps you've heard of him.  Uncle Drew was cool as a cucumber before pulling up from about 5 feet behind the three-point line to drain the game winner.  Kid just scored 41 in a win over Beantown, has been averaging 31/5/4/2 in the past 5 games, and now this.  Just stop breaking your hand/face/whatever every couple months so I can keep watching you dominate people.

Kyrie Joins the Elite

The NBA All-Star rosters were announced this week and as usual some picks seem questionable at best. How does Steph Curry get left out of the Western Conference roster?!?! It is always tough to name the last couple selections, and even harder for the deserving players just left out.

One player that was not left out and was very deserving was Cavs Point Guard Kyrie Irving. Uncle Drew is currently the best young player in the league and has created a buzz about Cleveland basketball for the first time since... umm... well I'm sure you remember. Kyrie is currently 6th in the league in scoring at 23.7 per and has all around stats that are simply silly for someone that cannot buy an alcoholic beverage (except for road trips to Toronto, of course).

With his selection, 20 year old Kyrie joins an impressive list of legends who also made an All Star team before their 21st birthday. Here is the list:

Magic
Isiah Thomas
Kobe
LeBron
KG
Shaq



And now Kyrie. Impressive stuff. Enjoy the weekend, Clubbers.

BREAKING: ANNOUNCING THE 2013 NBA ALL STAR RESERVES

There's a celebration brewing up in Da Club!  Sources close to the situation have confirmed your 2013 All-Star Game Reserves.  Let's begin with the Eastern Conference:

East:
Front Court: BOSH, Brook Lopez, Joakim Noah
Back Court: Paul George, JRUE MOTHAFUCKIN HOLIDAY
Wild Cards: Carlos Boozer, Kyrie Irving

West:
Front Court: Tim Duncan, David Lee, Serge Ibaka
Back Court: Tag-teamin duo of RussRuss Westbrook & James Harden
Wild Cards: Tony Parker, Seth Curry

Narrow misses include Tyson Chandler, Luol Deng, Brandon Jennings, Deron Williams, ZBO & Marc Gasol, LaMarcus Aldridge, Al Jefferson

Notes on the selections and non-selections:

• JRUE HOLIDAY!  So well-deserved.  Philly is underachieving as a team this year, which you might expect when your franchise player/best center in the conference hasn't played a single game.  But they're afloat because Jrue is having a career year, putting up 19 & 9.  Sure the turnovers are high, but that's expected for a young guard suddenly getting the keys to the offense.  His game is growing by leaps and bounds this year, and Da Club couldn't be happier to see him get some recognition.
• Bosh/Lopez/Noah - Pretty solid, but you could have probably put Tyson Chandler in there instead of Bosh.  Hate to trash the namesake of Da Club, but Chandler is such a huge reason the Knicks are good, and he deserves to be noticed.
• Paul George and Carlos Boozer have come on real strong lately, equally vital to their teams keeping pace in the East.
• KYRIE and STEPH CURRY.  Can't overstate how much I like these two.  Two of the best young guards in the league, and it will be awesome to watch them go at each other.  Even with some injuries, I support Kyrie over Paul Pierce/DWill/Brandon Jennings 100%.
• Real, real tough to leave out both ZBo and M.Gasol.  Would like to see one of them above Tony Parker. 
• Tim Duncan, David Lee, Ibaka, RussRuss, Harden - Can't argue there. 

All in all, I think things are shaping up nicely for the ASG.  Still think most of the fans are big dumb idiots for their voting records, but as usual the coaches managed to fix those errors for the most part.  If you haven't already, reserve your tickets now for the Club Bosh VIP Pussy Poppin Pregame Party! 

Throwback Thursday with Chuck

In a move that would surely merit 5/5 Paul Pierces on the Paul Pierce Wheelchair Scale (if solely based on participants, time in career, stage), here is the classic crossover of Jordan performed by the one and only A.I. during the 1997 All-Star game.

Bonus video!  Moment still gives me chills.  I really thought the Sixers had a chance.  Surely another 5/5 Paul Pierces.

Oh shit (part 5)

Here we have KD making DeMar DeRozan look all Thunderstruck with the doublecross to crazy finger roll.  Durant has a ridiculous handle for being so tall.  No fall, not really a big play, but the double is awesome and DeRozan isn't chump change.  KD is earning 3/5 Paul Pierces here.

Uncle Drew, K. Smooth and CP3

Some highlights from the last few days. 

First off is Uncle Drew's ridiculous elbow fade away with 1 second left to bury the Bobcats on Friday night.  I think sometimes people forget this guy is only 20 years old.  Can't even enjoy a legal shot of Cuervo with his buddy, Milk Chocolate.  Unbelievable upside.

Also on Friday night, K. Smooth baptized the softest marshmallow in the league, Spencer Hawes. I will never understand how 7 footers can look themselves in the mirror when they get dunked on like this.  Not only did you let K. Smooth tap his nut sack on your forehead, you fouled him.  If you are going to foul him, at least stop him from abusing you.  Spencer Hawes, a waste of 7 feet.

Last but not least, the Clippers figure if it ain't broke, don't fix it and go for back-to-back-to-back CP3 to DeAndre Jordan alley oops.  For a reason unknown to me, I hate CP3 with the fire of 1,000 suns, but god dammit he is good.

Steph Curry Giving Uncle Drew a Run for his Money

Love when Steph Curry is healthy.  He has a sticky handle and a smooth jumper.  Makes me wet.

This video also is a perfect instructional tool on what not to do on the defensive end of the floor.  Thanks, MJ, for letting the fellas put this together for us.

Oh shit

How Convenient, Dan Gilbert

A night after having his worst display of the season, posting 9 points on 4-14 shooting with 5 TOs in a loss to Jrue and the Sixers, the Cavs announced Kyrie Irving will be out for a month with a broken finger.  Apparently he sustained the injury against Dallas on Saturday, thinking it was only a bruise before playing the Sixers.

Anybody with half a brain can see through the PR spin on this one - Kyrie doesn't think Jrue is worth shit and thought he could outplay him on 9 fingers.  A few absurd ankle-breaking dribbles aside, Kyrie was thoroughly outplayed by the PG on the rise in South Philadelphia (14 & 9, with only 2 TOs(!)).

Conspiracy theories aside, I hope Uncle Drew is back soon.  One of my favorite players to watch, and you could tell something wasn't right last night; he had an all-around awful game, and you don't see that from him.  Time to take the reigns, Varejao!